Thomas Latané – Boat Style Candle Holder

This piece was inspired by a Scandinavian church candleholder made at the beginning of the 16th century. I made modifications to emphasize the boat form, forging a dragon head and tail, and elevating a candle cap at the center to suggest a mast. The broken bird element on the original (perhaps a rooster representing light of the coming day) was acknowledged by the pair of roosters I put under arches. Throughout I forged the steel with techniques appropriate to working wrought iron. The material was used until 150 years ago. Bringing historic material working techniques into the present helps ensure the future, keeping the artists' hand evident in the work.